Electrics

Your landlord should have electrical appliances checked every 12 months. Usually the electrician puts a sticker on the plug of each appliance saying when they were last checked. Keep your eye out for any fittings that are loose from the wall.

Brenda's Story: 'When looking round a property, use your nose'

Brenda, a lawyer and lecturer, lives with her two daughters and granddaughter in Manchester. The cottage she rented had severe damp and mould problems. The smell was the first indication that the property needed repairs. Read Brenda's full story